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TOEIC Link Part 5: elicit versus illicit

Elicit is a verb meaning to draw out a response or information; illicit is an adjective meaning illegal or forbidden. They are near-homophones with no shared meaning, so Part 5 uses the pair to check whether you read for grammatical role — a verb that produces a reaction versus an adjective that labels something as against the rules.

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TOEIC Link Part 5: elicit versus illicit

Elicit and illicit sound almost identical, yet they belong to different parts of speech and share no meaning. Elicit is a verb meaning to draw out a response, reaction, or piece of information; illicit is an adjective meaning illegal or forbidden. Because the two are near-homophones, Part 5 can slot the wrong one into a blank and reward a reader who processes only the sound. For another pair separated by sound alone, see cite versus site.

The core rule: draw out versus forbidden

  • elicit (verb) = to draw out or bring forth a response, reaction, or information. The survey was designed to elicit honest feedback. / Her question elicited a long pause.
  • illicit (adjective) = illegal, unlawful, or forbidden. The firm was fined for illicit trading. / They uncovered an illicit shipment of goods.

The clue is the word's grammatical job. Elicit is a verb — it names an action that produces a reaction. Illicit is an adjective — it labels a noun as against the rules.

Why Part 5 likes this pair

The two words fill different grammatical slots, so the sentence structure usually decides the answer.

The interviewer's open questions were meant to __ detailed answers.

The blank is a verb naming the action of drawing out answers, so the answer is elicit.

Authorities shut down the site for its __ distribution of copyrighted files.

Here the blank modifies the noun distribution and means illegal, so illicit is required.

Spotting the clue in the structure

Ask whether the word is naming an action or describing a noun:

  • It is a verb meaning draw out or bring forth a response → choose elicit (elicit a response, elicit information, elicit sympathy).
  • It is an adjective meaning illegal or forbidden before a noun → choose illicit (illicit trade, an illicit affair, illicit substances).

A quick test settles most items: if you could swap in draw out or bring about, you want elicit; if you could swap in illegal or forbidden, you want illicit. For another pair where the word's role in the sentence decides the answer, see eminent versus imminent.

Quick self-check

  1. The trainer used role-play to __ more natural responses from the class. (elicit — draw out)
  2. The company was penalized for the __ sale of restricted products. (illicit — illegal)

Takeaway

If the blank is a verb meaning to draw out a response or information, you need elicit. If it is an adjective meaning illegal or forbidden, you need illicit. Decide whether the sentence names an action or labels a noun, and two identical-sounding words stop competing. For a related pair decided by meaning rather than spelling, see principal versus principle.